The Costco Connection - October 2015

30 ;e Costco Connection OCTOBER 2015

THANKS TO THE success of the Star Wars films, fans wanted as much memorabilia as possible. The integrity of those products is as important to Lucasfilm as the legacy of the films.

“I’m very involved in the initial
concept discussion at the outset of
each film and later in the approval
phase,” says Kathleen Kennedy, presi-
dent of Lucasfilm. The day-to-day
development process is the responsi-
bility of a group, led by Paul Southern,
that has been working together for
years and is now part of the broader
Disney Consumer Products branch of
The Walt Disney Company. Kennedy
calls it “a powerful combination of tal-
ent that is unsurpassed in the con-
sumer products space.”
Southern says it’s all about the fans.

“The respect that you build for the
fans is huge,” he says. “The respect
that I have built up for those fans over
the years means that we as a group are
very focused on delivering great
product experiences to fans of all
ages. And the integrity of what we
do is driven by how important we
know this is to so many people. It
is very humbling.”—SF

A universe of products

s do is driven by how important we

The Costco Connection

Costco will be carrying a wide universe of Star Wars–themed products, from videos to books to costumes to pajamas to toys. Look for them at your local warehouse and on Costco.com.

“Really great storytelling emanates from
a single point of view,” she says. “And when
George created Star Wars it was deeply per-
sonal to him. He was drawing on things that
really mattered to him at the time.”
Costco members were asked on Facebook
what the films mean to them.

“Star Wars was an integral part of my
youth,” says Todd Blevins. “Playing with the
Millennium Falcon and arguing with my
friends about who gets to be Luke vs. Vader.”
Lillian Morales-Reyes says, “It takes me
back to the time when movies were family
friendly, and the world wasn’t such an ugly
place to live in.”
Fans were understandably concerned
when George Lucas called it quits. But they
have nothing to fear. Kennedy has received
nothing but total support from the corporate
honchos at Disney, and she and her team at
Lucasfilm embrace the task ahead.

“What George was trying to explore in his storytelling, [everyone involved, from the Lucasfilm staff to the individual artists is] equally interested in exploring,” she maintains. “And then they bring their own personal point of view to it and their own personal passion. Because if you don’t have that, then the decisions you’re making along the way aren’t authentic. So that’s why it lasted, and I hope that that’s why it will continue to last, because that’s the important piece that we are trying to carry on: the legacy that George created.” C

know what’s going on with the movie and they know what’s going on with a book that’s being published. That exchange of ideas is really important inside this single universe.”

Two types of Star Wars projects are being
planned, which Kennedy has labeled “Saga”
and “Anthology.”
“The Saga films focus on the Skywalker
family saga,” she explains. “The stories follow
a linear narrative that connects to the previ-
ous six films. The Force Awakens follows
Return of the Jedi and continues that genera-
tional story. The Anthology films offer oppor-
tunities to explore fresh characters, new
storylines and a variety of genres inside the
Star Wars universe.”
The new generation of films is coming
from relatively young directors and writers.
It’s not because more established artists are
passing on the projects. In fact, Lawrence
Kasdan, who began writing Star Wars scripts
with The Empire Strikes Back, is an integral
part of the story team. But Kennedy sees the
need for fresh creative blood.

“If you’re 35 to 50 and you’re in the movie business,” Kennedy says, “Star Wars probably had some significant impact on who you are as a filmmaker, and what might have inspired you to get into the movie business. Usually, the first thing out of their mouth is, ‘Let me tell you how much Star Wars has meant to me in my life.’ ”

The legacy

What sets the Star Wars universe apart from other film series is the meaning it has for so many. Kennedy attributes the popularity to great storytelling.